FAAN warns VIPs, officials over traffic rules violation at airports

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has warned the general public, especially government officials and others with VIP status, against flagrant abuse of traffic and operational rules at airports nationwide.

FAAN said that the disregard for rules, which has become the norm lately, has further exposed the airports, particularly the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to security risks.

Managing Director of the authority, Saleh Dunoma, said that the development was not acceptable, as he insisted that all concerned organisations and individuals who use the airport facilities must obey traffic rules to sustain the safety and security that is dear to all.

He said that the Federal Government had also directed all users of the airports, including VIPs to abide by the rules guiding airport operations and FAAN would no longer condone abuse.

The government frowned at cases of indiscriminate parking of vehicles at the front of the terminal buildings consequently precipitate long queues and congestions.

General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Yakubu Dati, said that the actions were contrary to air transport operation regulations, as spelt out in Annexes 9 and 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) convention.

Dati observed that the situation has gone so bad that personal aides of some of the highly placed persons and top government officials are beginning to manhandle Aviation Security (AVSEC) officials whose duty it is to ensure safety and the protection of the terminal building, passengers and the general public.

“To avert the undesirable phenomenon, which portends greater danger in the light of current security climate and intensified concerns about possible use of vehicles as mobile bombs, all VIPs and top government officials are enjoined to comply with all civil aviation measures and procedures put in place by FAAN to ensure safety at all the airports,” Dunoma said.

Industry observers have also noted that other Nigerians and expatriates who use the airports obey traffic rules and regulations but the overzealous aides of VIPs and some security operatives break these rules with impunity and this had in the past elicited misunderstanding between the security operatives and AVSEC.

It was also noted that the VIP parking at departure has significantly contributed to the gridlock at peak hours of air travel, an act which has made many travellers miss their flights.